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Ava

It’s taken several months, but at last, my dream has come true: I am running my own animal shelter.

No longer do I have to worry about trying to make things work for my beloved pets while on a tight budget from a struggling owner. Thanks to the financial success of my Alphas, I never have to worry about financing the shelter.

In fact, since the release of the AVA Watch, NexusTech and my Alphas have been doing better than ever. People are calling it revolutionary for Omegas, and the value and profits of the company have skyrocketed.

I don’t really feel it in my day to day. My Alphas continue to be down to earth, and I sure don’t plan on living like some kind of celebrity anytime soon. I like to focus on my goal of making the world a better place for animals, one rescued fur baby at a time.

My mates do love to keep surprising me, whether it’s with small things like a new dress, or big things like a vacation to the Caribbean. But they did those things before, so really, the shift in our wealth hasn’t really affected us. I do love to go around with cash in my pocket to give to homeless people, and I’ve started recently to expand my work to helping out at various charity events.

Ethan teases me that I’m going to be a community leader before I know it. I don’t know about that. I’m not sure I have the leadership skills for it. I like animals first and foremost, still.

But on the other hand, I’ve already ended up doing things in this life that I never expected to want or be able to do. I’m so much happier and more confident than I was before. Who’s to say I won’t end up doing what Ethan says as well?

But most importantly to me, above all else besides the happiness of my Alphas, is that my shelter is ideal for the animals. They need to be comfortable and cared for, and given all the medical needs and training from our workers so they’ll be ready for adoption.

I’m determined to house as many as I can, and to spend as much time hands-on as I can with them. My boss back at the old shelter was rarely there. He was only concerned with the finances. I’m there almost every day, helping to take care of the animals myself, showing my volunteers and paid workers through example.

Today, for instance, I’m taking one of the dogs out for a walk. Lucky is a rambunctious poodle, and very intelligent. He’s also due for a haircut, I note idly.

I blame my thoughts about Lucky’s fur on why I don’t see the man walking toward me, but his scent warns me for sure. I stop in the middle of the sidewalk and stare up at him.

Dante grins down at me. “You should probably watch where you’re going.”

“At least I didn’t drop the leash this time,” I tease him, holding up the aforementioned leash still in my hand.

It’s only because his scent is so ingrained in me that I knew he was there, though. I definitely would’ve run into him again otherwise. It’s almost exactly like the first time we met. Except then, Dante was a stranger.

Now, he’s my Alpha, and one of the loves of my life.

Dante’s eyes are dark and heady. “No, you didn’t drop the leash,” he murmurs.

I step closer, letting myself feel the heat of his body, and letting him feel mine. “So, what’s a busy business-running Alpha like you doing wandering around in the middle of the afternoon?” I ask.

“I came to see if you needed any help. I finished up work at NexusTech a little early, and…” His arm slides around my waist. “I wanted to spend time with you.”

I smile, my free hand landing on his chest. “I like that idea. First things first, though. Lucky needs his walk.”

We go on a nice stroll together with the dog, holding hands, just like any other Alpha and Omega couple that we might pass along the way. Except that we’re not. Maybe it’s smug of me, but I feel like we’re special.

When we get back to the shelter, I set Dante to work helping me feed the dogs their afternoon dinner, and then hand-feeding with the eye dropper the baby kittens we got last week who still need us to feed them like their mother would.

“I was really worried about them when we first got them in,” I tell Dante in hushed tones as we feed them. “They don’t often survive if they’re this young without their mother. But I think now that they’re going to be okay.”

Dante smiles down at the tiny furry kitten, which looks even smaller in his large hand. “Yeah, I think so too.”

My heart flutters as I look at him and how gentle and caring he is with the baby. He’s going to be an amazing father.

We’ve just finished feeding the kittens when I hear the front door to the shelter open. “The poop cleaning brigade is here!” Ethan announces.

“Please stop saying that,” Garrett says, and even though I can’t see it, I can hear him rolling his eyes.

I pop my head out. “What are you three doing here?”

“We finished work and came to help,” Caleb says, smiling at Jade, one of my employees who’s currently manning the front desk, as he scoots on by her.

“That’s very sweet of you,” I tell them. “If you really want to, some of the cages could do with rinsing, and the dogs would love a little playtime with you in the yard before they have to go down to their kennels for the night.”

Ethan salutes, and the three of them are on it.

I smile, watching as my four Alphas take care of my animals for me. They might be going on to different homes, but right now, they’re my animals, and they deserve all the love and care I can possibly give them.

And they’re getting as much love and care as my Alphas can spare too. I know that my mates would find a way to help people no matter what. That’s just the kind of men they are. But they’re here, at the shelter, whenever they can because they know it matters to me. They care about it because I care about it.

Nerves flutter in my belly as I watch them finish playing with the dogs and taking them all into their kennels for the night.

I was going to tell them at dinner, but they’re all here now… and I admit it’s been difficult to keep this secret from them. I didn’t want to tell them until I went to the doctor and was absolutely sure. At first, I thought it might just be exhaustion from busting my ass getting this shelter opened.

But now I know what it is, and I want to tell them.

The four men approach me, waiting for my next orders. Dante frowns when he sees my face. “What’s up?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” I promise them quickly.

“All right,” Caleb says, trusting me. “What is it?”

I take a deep breath and smile. “I wanted to tell you over a special dinner or something, but…” I put my hands on my stomach. “I’m pregnant.”

For a moment, all four Alphas look stunned.

Then they swoop in on me, hugging me and holding me tightly, rocking me, kissing my face all over. I laugh, smiling so hard my face hurts.

I knew they would be happy, so I’m not sure why I was even so nervous, but now I’m nothing but elated.

Garrett purrs, clearly pleased. “You need to tell your employees that they’re going to close up, because we’re going to take you home now… and celebrate.”

His tone leaves absolutely no question as to what ‘celebrate’ means.

I laugh. “I can’t just foist the work off to my employees! What kind of example would I be setting?”

“Oh my god,” Jade says, laughing from the doorway. I look over at her as she waves her hands at me. “Go home! We can close up. I’m happy to do it. You guys need to go and celebrate. Congratulations, boss!”

I smile gratefully. “Thank you, Jade.”

“Of course.”

She gives me a little salute, and I look over at my Alphas. “Well, I suppose just this once, that does mean I’m free to go.”

“Damn right it does,” Dante says.

He nods decisively, and as my four Alphas hustle me out of my animal shelter to take me home, I can already feel the heat and anticipation building between us. I smile, a giddy feeling of joy overtaking me for a moment.

This isn’t just the beginning of an incredible night.

It’s the beginning of an incredible life.

* * *

Thank you for reading Finding Their Omega !